The Mission Viejo–Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 proudly announces the completion of its annual Dictionary Project, marking 20 consecutive years of providing dictionaries to local third-grade students.
Since the program began, the Lodge has distributed more than 90,000 dictionaries to students in the Saddleback and Capistrano Unified School Districts. This year, once again, every third grader and their teachers in both districts received a dictionary—continuing a nationwide Elks charitable initiative that the Mission Viejo lodge has supported annually.
Over the years, the impact of the program has reached far beyond the classroom. Former third-grade recipients have written back to the Lodge to share how their Elks dictionaries became valuable learning tools as they advanced through school—some even carrying them into their college years. Today, several local elementary school teachers proudly tell their students that they, too, once received an Elks dictionary as third graders.
This year’s project was made possible by a dedicated group of volunteers who gathered to stamp, rebox, and prepare the dictionaries for delivery. Special thanks go to Gene and Tracee McRane, Margaret Moore, Debbie Woog, Larry Colgan, Pam Simpson, Debby Lamb, Jack and Sandy Jacob, Alan Harkness, Carolyn Kruebbe, Lori Cincotta, Gerard and Jane Doherty, Sandie McClure, Bryan and Pam Takamiya, Sheryn Howlett, and Jenny Buford.
Additional appreciation is extended to those who loaded boxes into their vehicles and delivered dictionaries directly to the schools: Tracee McRane, Carolyn Kruebbe, Sandie McClure, Michelle Scaglione, Dinah Grosch, Diane Cannon, and Lynette Holmes.
“With so many hands on deck, we were able to complete the project quickly and efficiently,” said Lynette Holmes, Dictionary Chair. “I sincerely thank everyone who helped make this year’s dictionary project such a meaningful success.”
The Mission Viejo-Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 is celebrating over 52 years of service to Saddleback Valley Communities. It is one of 8 lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 157-year history of giving. For information regarding Elks programs or Elks membership, call 949 830-3557
